Kukla's Korner Hockey

Of the 20 Penguins who participated in Game 7 against the New York Rangers, eight are 30 or older. Two other 30-somethings, defenseman Brooks Orpik and right wing Pascal Dupuis, likely would have been in the lineup had they been healthy.

Once the league's fresh-faced team, the Penguins should be searching for youthful legs this summer.

But getting younger in free agency isn't realistic, and the Penguins' system isn't blessed with an impact forward at the AHL level, though many young defensemen could be ready.

And while the Penguins' stars are still young, they aren't kids anymore.

This summer, Sidney Crosby turns 27 and Evgeni Malkin turns 28.

Mario Lemieux never won a Stanley Cup past 26. Wayne Gretzky won his last championship at 27. Hockey is a young man's game, and while the Penguins' stars aren't old by any stretch, their championship window isn't as wide as it once was.

Comments

How quickly things change. Pre-season, the Pens were a viable, Cup-contending team with a small question mark in goal. Now they’re a bunch of over-the-hill bums who can’t muster a single goal in a big game.